11-08-23 PC Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minnesota Model Solar Ordinance 7 IV. Permitted Accessory Use - Solar energy systems are a permitted accessory use in all zoning districts where structures of any sort are allowed, subject to certain requirements as set forth below. Solar carports and associated electric vehicle charging equipment are a permitted accessory use on surface parking lots in all districts regardless of the existence of another building. Solar energy systems that do not meet the following design standards will require a conditional use permit. A. Height - Solar energy systems must meet the following height requirements: 1. Building- or roof- mounted solar energy systems shall not exceed the maximum allowed height in any zoning district. For purposes for height measurement, solar energy systems other than building-integrated systems shall be given an equivalent exception to height standards as building-mounted mechanical devices or equipment. 2. Ground- or pole-mounted solar energy systems shall not exceed 15 feet in height when oriented at maximum tilt. 3. Solar carports in non-residential districts shall not exceed 20 feet in height. B. Set-back - Solar energy systems must meet the accessory structure setback for the zoning district and primary land use associated with the lot on which the system is located, except as allowed below. 1. Roof- or Building-mounted Solar Energy Systems – The collector surface and mounting devices for roof-mounted solar energy systems shall not extend beyond the exterior perimeter of the building on which the system is mounted or built, unless the collector and mounting system has been explicitly engineered to safely extend beyond the edge, and setback standards are not violated. Exterior piping for solar hot water systems shall be allowed to extend beyond the perimeter of the building on a side-yard exposure. Solar collectors mounted on the sides of buildings and serving as awnings are considered to be building-integrated systems and are regulated as awnings. 2. Ground-mounted Solar Energy Systems - Ground-mounted solar energy systems may not extend into the side-yard or rear setback when oriented at minimum design tilt, except as otherwise allowed for building mechanical systems. C. Visibility - Solar energy systems in residential districts shall be designed to minimize visual impacts from the public right-of- way, as described in C.1-3, to the extent that doing so does not affect the cost or efficacy of the system. Visibility standards do not apply to systems in non-residential districts, except for historic building or district review as described in E. below. Height - Rooftop System This ordinance notes exceptions to the height standard when other exceptions for rooftop equipment are granted in the ordinance. Communities should directly reference the exception language rather than use the placeholder language here. Height - Ground or Pole Mounted System This ordinance sets a 15-foot height limit, which is typical for residential accessory uses. Some communities allow solar to be higher than other accessory uses in order to enable capture of the lot’s solar resource when lots and buildings are closer together. An alternative is to balance height with setback, allowing taller systems if set back farther– for instance, an extra foot of height for every extra two feet of setback. In rural (or large lot) areas, solar resources are unlikely to be constrained by trees or buildings on adjacent lots and the lot is likely to have adequate solar resource for a lower (10-15 foot) ground- mount application. Visibility and Aesthetics Aesthetic regulation should be tied to design principles rather than targeted at a specific land use. If the community already regulates aesthetics in residential districts, this model language provides guidance for balancing between interests of property owners who want to use their on-site solar resources and neighbors concerned with neighborhood character. Substantial evidence demonstrates that solar installations have no effect on property values of adjacent properties. But where aesthetic regulation is used to protect community character, these standards provide balance between competing goals.